Aspirating valve

ABSTRACT

A valve body with a water passageway having a Venturi portion is interposed in a water line, adjacent a shower head, for example. Fluids, such as shampoos, liquid soaps, detergents, bath oils, and the like, are introduced into the water stream at the Venturi throat, a fluid flow channel in the valve body extending to the throat from a fluid supply reservoir removably connected to the valve body. Interposed in the fluid flow path is a hollow actuator rod translatable in a cross bore formed in the valve body. In &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;ON&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position, an annular groove in the rod periphery is in register with the adjacent channel ports to permit fluid to flow from the reservoir into the water stream. In &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;OFF&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; position, an annular slot in the rod periphery is in register with the adjacent channel ports, the suction being broken, however, by openings connecting the annular slot with a central hollow bore in the actuator rod open to the atmosphere. For institutional applications, the duration of the &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;ON&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39; period is timed, and the valve is automatically closed at the end of a predetermined period.

Duecker ASPIRATING VALVE [76] Inventor: Willard John Duecker, 1041Cameron Way, Stockton, Calif. 95207 [22] Filed: Apr. 26, 1972 [21] Appl.No.: 247,557

[52] U.S. Cl 137/604, 239/70, 239/318 [51] Int. Cl. Fl6k 19/00 [58]Field of Search 137/604; 239/318, 239/70 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 2,919,073 12/1959 Akselrad 239/318 X 3,231,200 1/1966Heald 137/604 X 3,486,695 12/1969 Novak 239/318X Primary Examiner-RobertG. Nilson Attorney-Robert G. West et a1.

ABSTRACT A valve body with a water passageway having a Venturi portionis interposed in a water line, adjacent a shower head, for example.Fluids, such as shampoos, liquid soaps, detergents, bath oils, and thelike, are introduced into the water stream at the Venturi throat, afluid flow channel in the valve body extending to the throat from afluid supply reservoir removably connected to the valve body. Interposedin the fluid flow path is a hollow actuator rod translatable in a crossbore formed in the valve body. In ON position, an annular groove in therod periphery is in register with the adjacent channel ports to permitfluid to flow from the reservoir into the water stream. In OFF position,an annular slot in the rod periphery is in register with the adjacentchannel ports, the suction being broken, however, by openings connectingthe annular slot with a central hollow bore in the actuator rod open tothe atmosphere. For institutional applications, the duration of the ONperiod is timed, and the valve is automatically closed at the end of apredetermined period.

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ASPIRATING VALVE The invention relates to improvements in valves capableof introducing and mixing relatively small quantities of fluid, such asshampoo, or detergent, into a water stream.

The market place, as well as the patent literature is replete withdevices capable of withdrawing, from a source of supply, smallquantities of fluids, such as liquid shampoo, soap, detergent, bath oil,and the like, and introducing the fluid into a stream of water byaspiration. However, so far as is known, none of these devices has beencapable of operating efficiently for protracted periods of time withoutclogging and without structural deterioration of the operatingmechanism.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an aspiratingvalve which can be alternated between fully OFF" and fully ON" positionsquickly and efficiently, and without clogging or leaking, for protractedlengths of time.

It is another object of the invention to provide an aspirating valvewhich is compatible with all existing types of plumbing equipment andaccessories.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an aspiratingvalve which is relatively economical yet is durable and long-lived, andhas but a minimum of moving parts to get out of order.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide an aspirating valvewhich is readily operated by persons of any age group.

It is still a further object to provide a valve in which the period ofaspiration can be controlled.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a generally improvedaspirating valve.

Other objects, together with the foregoing, are attained in theembodiments described in the following description and shown in theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing a typical installation inconjunction with a shower head;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view, to an enlarged scale, of the FIG. 1form of device, taken on the plane indicated by the line 2--2 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, to an enlarged scale ofthe FIG. 1 form of device, the plane of the section being indicated bythe line 3-3 in FIG. 2, and showing the actuator rod in OFF position;

FIG. 4 is a view comparable to FIG. 3, but showing the actuator rod inON position; and,

FIG. 5 is a view comparable to FIGS. 3 and 4 but showing a meteredorifice type of automatic closure rod for use in institutionalapplications and omitting the fluid supply bottle. 7

While the aspirating valve of the invention is susceptible of numerousphysicalembodiments, depending upon the environment and requirements ofuse, substantial numbers of the herein shown and described embodimentshave been made, tested, sold and used, and all have performed in aneminently satisfactory manner.

The aspirating valve of the invention, generally designated by thereference numeral 12, is frequently installed between the inlet pipe 13and head 14 of a bathroom shower.

The upper portion 15 of valve body 16 is generally hemispherical in asection transverse to the fore and aft flow axis 17 (see FIG. 2) and thelower portion 18 of the body includes a depending fitting 19 interiorlythreaded at 21 to receive the exteriorly threaded neck 22 of a container23, such as a plastic" bottle filled with a fluid 24 to be injected inthe main water flow to the shower head. The fluid 24 can be of anydesired material and often is a liquid form of soap, detergent, shampooor bath oil.

Installation of the valve 16 is effected by engaging the external pipethreads 29 on the pipe 13 with the internal threads 31 on the upstreamend of a fore and aft water flow passageway, generally designated by thereference numeral 32, coaxially disposed on the fore and aft axis 17. Aflattened portion 33 on opposite sides of the upper valve body (seeFIG. 1) facilitates the application of a wrench to assist in rotatingthe valve body into tight engagement with the inlet pipe 13. At theforward, discharge end of the water passageway 32, the shower head 14 issecured to the valve body by appropriate engagement between a showerhead fitting 34 and the externally threaded nipple 36 on the forward endof the valve body.

As appears most clearly in FIGS. 1 and 2, the horizontal, fore and aftpassageway 32 in the valve body comprises not only the enlarged entryportion into which the connected inlet pipe 13 protrudes, but also agreatly reduced cylindrical portion 37 opening into the base 38, orthroat, of a forwardly diverging chamber 39, forming a Venturiconfiguration.

Aspiration of fluid 24 from the fluid source of supply 23, and injectionof the fluid into the main water stream is effected by the provision ofa two-part vertical channel, generally designated by the numeral 41,extending between the fluid supply and the Venturi throat 38.

The channel 41 includes a lower somewhat enlarged, cylindrical portion42, in communication through orifree 40 with the chamber 43, the chamber43 being defined by the upper end of the fluid container 23 and theadjacent inner surface 44 of the internally threaded fitting 19.

The orifice portion 42 of the channel has a diameter such as snugly toreceive in frictional engagement the upper end of a plastic tube 46extending downwardly in the fluid reservoir 24 below the fluid surfaceand reaching almost to the bottom 47 of the container, as appears mostclearly in FIG. 2.

A vent 45 in the valve body connects the chamber 43 and the atmosphere.

Where the channel 41 enters the Venturi throat 38, the diameter isconstricted, as indicated by the Venturi port 48 and attendant upperchannel portion 49, or aperture.

Interposed in the channel 41 between the upper channel portion 49 andthe lower channel portion 42 so as to effect control'of fluid flow is ahollow actuator rod 51 translatably disposed in a cross-bore 52 formedin the valve body just below the Venturi throat 38. Extending axiallythrough the rod 51 is a hole 53 affording communication between theatmosphere and a pair of apertures 54 in communication with an annularslot 56 circumscribed in the outer periphery of the actuator rod 51.

Mounted on the ends of the rod 51 are limit stops in the form ofspacer-indicator knobs including an OFF knob 58 at the left-hand end ofthe rod when looking upstream and an "ON" knob 59 at the opposite end.Preferably, the ON" knob 59 is larger in size than the OFF" knob 58 sothat the two can be distinguished by touch alone, a convenience for theuser when shampooing, for example.

The knobs 58 and 59 are separated by a distance exceeding the length ofthe transverse bore 52 by an amount equal to the separation between thegroove 61 and the slot 56; thus by abutting one or the other of theknobs against the valve body, the groove 61 and the slot 56 are broughtinto respective register with the channel 41.

As appears most clearly in FIG. 3, when the valve is to be turned off,the OFF" knob 58 is pushed until it is in face to face engagement withthe adjacent outer surface of the valve body. Then, the circumferentialslot 56 is in register, along its lower periphery, with the adjacentportion of the relatively large lower channel portion 42, and along itsupper periphery with the relatively small upper channel portion 49.Concurrently, however, the drilled openings 54 afford communicationbetween the slot 56 and the atmosphere. Thus, even though water might beflowing from the inlet pipe 13, through the passageway 32 and out theshower head 14, no fluid is aspirated from the supply bottle 23 andinjected into the water stream. The reason is that the atmosphericpressure in the hole 53 and in the rod openings 54 and slot 56 issubstantially balanced by the atmospheric pressure in the channelportion 42, in the vent 45 and in the chamber 43 and the space above thesurface of the fluid 24; fluid is therefore not withdrawn from the fluidsupply reservoir 24.

Such aspiration as may take place at the Venturi port 48 of the aperture49 is readily supplied by the atmospheric air available at the openings54 and the connecting annular slot 56 in communication with the aperture49. A small amount of air, in other words, may at times be injected intothe flowing water stream. When the water is subsequently turned off, thewater quickly drains away through the shower head nozzle andsubstantially none finds it way down through the minute port 48 andaperture 49. Thus, the fluid in the bottle 23 does not become diluted bywater from the shower passageway.

In ON" position, the ON" knob 59 abuts the adjacent face of the valvebody (see FIG. 4) and in this position of the rod 51, the lower portion42 of the channel 41 is in register with the lower periphery of anannular groove 61 formed in the circumference of the rod. Concurrently,the upper periphery of the annular groove 61 is in register with thecountersunk lower end 50 of the vertical aperture 49. Thus, the suctionor reduced, subatmospheric, aspirating pressure availabe at the upperVenturi port 48 as a result of the swift flow of water through theVenturi throat 38, is communicated downwardly through the aperture 49and the groove 61, thence through the plastic" tube 46. The differentialbetween the reduced throat pressure and the higher atmospheric pressureavailable through the vent 45 and on top of the fluid surface iseffective to force the fluid 24 upwardly through the tube 46, thencethrough the lower run 42 of the channel 42, along the peripheral groove61, thence through the upper channel run 49 and then inject the fluidthrough the Venturi port 48 and into the shower stream with which thefluid merges.

In operaton, the user customarily firstturns on and balances the hot andcold flows to attain the desired volume and degree of water temperature.Then, after wetting the hair, for example, the actuator rod is switchedfrom OFF" to ON" by pushing the ON knob into abutment with the valvebody. The liquid soap or shampoo inside the bottle is thereupon suckedup" and injected into the water stream so that as the water-fluidmixture emerges from the shower head it can be directed into the hair.After sufficient material is dispensed, the rod is moved into OFF"position by pushing against the OFF knob in the opposite direction untilit abuts the adjacent wall of the valve body. This cycle can be repeatedseveral times, if desired, until the shampoo is completed. At theconclusion of the shower, the main water valves are shut off, incustomary fashion.

In order to replenish the fluid supply, the empty bottle 23 is unscrewedfrom the fitting 19 for replacement or for refilling from anothercontainer.

When initially installed, the plastic tube 46 is inserted through theorifice 40 into the recessed lower channel portion 42 where it isfrictionally held in place. To replace the tube 46, it is merelynecessary to pull the tube out of the cylindrical channel recess 42 inthe bottom 44 of the valve body and insert a new tube.

In some installations, for example, in institutional applications, it isdesirable that the control rod be maintained in open or ON" position foronly a predetermined limited period of time so that the entire supply offluid is not wasted as a consequence of the users forgetfulness or lackof interest.

Accordingly, I have provided a modified form of actuator rod 66, asappears in FIG. 5, wherein movement of the rod is spring-actuated byspring 67 in moving from ON to OFF" position, and the return time iscontrolled by a metered orifice 68.

The hollow rod 66 is elongated and extends, as before, through across-bore 71 in the valve body 70. At the right-hand end of the rod asappears in FIG. 5, there is mounted an ON knob 72 which is pushed fullytoward the left, as appears in FIG. 5, to start the flow of fluid fromthe supply reservoir (not shown).

Translation of the rod 66 to the left causes a corresponding left-handmovement of a piston 73 on the lefthand end of the rod, the piston 73compressing the helical spring 67 interposed between the piston and anannular end plug 76 secured by a cross-pin in the lefthand end of ahollow cylinder 77 mounted on the valve body. As the piston 73 with itsO-ring washer 78 is urged against spring pressure in a left-handdirection, as appears in FIG. 5, the air ahead of the piston 73 isvented to the atmosphere through the central aperture I 74 in the plug76. Concurrently, air is drawn in through the metering orifice 68 tooccupy the space behind the piston 73 in the right-hand chamber 81.

In the form of rod shown in FIG. 5, the grooves 83 are alternated withlands 84, fluid feed being therefore intermittent rather than continuousin nature, as the rod is returned by spring force from fully ON positionto the fully OFF" position shown in full line in FIG. 5. Resistance toclosing movement of the piston 73 and the rod 66 is offered by theorifice 68 venting air in the right-hand chamber 81 to the atmosphere.The extent of opening of the orifice 68 can be controlled by appropriatemovement of a metering pin 88 in threaded engagement with a drilled andtapped opening 89 in the valve body boss 91 on which the cylinder ismounted, the base of the cylinder 77 being placed in a cylindricalrecess 92 and secured by a set screw 93, for example.

As before, in closed or OFF" position, a pair of apertures 94 affordcommunication between the. atmosphere extending into the hollow centralopening 95 in the rod and into the peripheral groove 96, the verticalaperture 97 and the throat 98 of the fore and aft water passageway, andthereby breaks the suction.

in operating the institutional type of valve 66, the main water flowrate and temperature is first established, followed by pushing the ON"knob 72 in a lefthand direction as appears in FIG. 5, until it abuts thesmall boss 99 on the adjacent side of the valve body. The knob 72 isthereupon released and spring compression urges the rod toward theright. lntermittent fluid flow thereupon occurs as the lands and grooveson the rod are slowly moved toward the right under urgency of thecompression spring, right-hand movement being slowed in dependence uponthe extent of opening of the air vent orifice 68.

Upon reaching the fully projected OFF position shown in FlG. 5, thesuction or syphoning effect is interrupted by reason of the air openings94, and fluid flow is thereby stopped. By appropriate setting of themetering screw 88, any desired dwell, or operation time, within limits,can be established.

It can therefore be seen that l have provided an aspirating valve whichserves positively and effectively to dispense either a virtuallyunlimited supply or a predetermined timed charge of fluid into a showeror bath water stream.

What is claimed is:

1. An aspirating valve comprising:

a. a valve body having formed therein a fore and aft passagewayextending from an upstream water supply port to a downstream dischargeport, said passageway including a Venturi portion; said valve body alsohaving formed therein a transverse bore adjacent said passageway, and achannel having a first run extending between said Venturi portion ofsaid passageway and a first opening in the walls of said bore and asecond run extending between a second opening in the walls of said boreand a fluid supply orifice; and,

. an actuator rod translatably disposed in said transverse bore, saidrod being movable between 1. an on position wherein said first openingand said second opening in the walls of said bore and interconnected byan uninterrupted cavity comprising a peripheral groove formed in saidrod to afford a subatmospheric pressure in said channel capable ofaspirating fluid from a fluid supply reservoir connected to saidorifice, said first opening and said second opening being in facingrelation on opposite walls of said bore and in register with said groovein said on position of said actuator rod to conduct fluid passing fromsaid orifice through said second run of said channel thence through saidperipheral groove in said rod and through said first run of said channeland discharging into said Venturi portion to merge with water flowingthrough said passageway, and

2. an off position wherein said first opening and said second openingare interconnected by a conduit comprising a peripheral slot formed insaid rod axially removed a predetermined distance from said peripheralgroove, said peripheral slot being interrupted by an aperture comprisingan axial hole bored through said rod and connected to said peripheralslot through a recess, atmospheric air being thereby capable of passinginto said slot and effective to break the aspirating effect of saidVenturi on said fluid supply.

2. An aspirating valve as in claim 1 including a pair of limit stops onthe ends of said rod separated by a distance greater than the length ofsaid transverse bore by an amount substantially equal to saidpredetermined amount of axial separation between said slot and saidgroove, and said transverse bore extends between opposite sides of saidvalve body, said limit stops being capable of defining the extent of toand fro axial movement of said actuator rod between said on" positionand said off" position.

3. An aspirating valve as in claim 2 wherein said upstream port of saidpassageway is interiorly threaded and said discharge port is formed inan exteriorly threaded nipple projecting from said valve body.

4. An aspirating valve as in claim 3 wherein said orifice is encompassedby a threaded fitting capable of engaging a removable fluid supplyreservoir.

5. An aspirating valve as in claim 4 further including a tubingconnected to said orifice and extending below the fluid surface in saidsupply reservoir, and an air supply vent in said valve body connectingthe space above said fluid surface to the atmosphere.

6. An aspirating valve as in claim 5 including springbiased andmetered-orifice timer means on said valve for moving said rod from onposition to off position after a predetermined dwell time in onposition. t

1. An aspirating valve comprising: a. a valve body having formed thereina fore and aft passageway extending from an upstream water supply portto a downstream discharge port, said passageway including a Venturiportion; said valve body also having formed therein a transverse boreadjacent said passageway, and a channel having a first run extendingbetween said Venturi portion of said passageway and a first opening inthe walls of said bore and a second run extending between a secondopening in the walls of said bore and a fluid supply orifice; and, b. anactuator rod translatably disposed in said transverse bore, said rodbeing movable between
 1. an ''''on'''' position wherein said firstopening and said second opening in the walls of said bore andinterconnected by an uninterrupted cavity comprising a peripheral grooveformed in said rod to afford a sub-atmospheric pressure in said channelcapable of aspirating fluid from a fluid supply reservoir connected tosaid orifice, said first opening and said second opening being in facingrelation on opposite walls of said bore and in register with said groovein said ''''on'''' position of said actuator rod to conduct fluidpassing from said orifice through said second run of said channel thencethrough said peripheral groove in said rod and through said first run ofsaid channel and discharging into said Venturi portion to merge withwater flowing through said passageway, and
 2. an ''''off'''' positionwherein said first opening and said second opening are interconnected bya conduit comprising a peripheral slot formed in said rod axiallyremoved a predetermined distance from said peripheral groove, saidperipheral slot being interrupted by an aperture comprising an axialhole bored through said rod and connected to said peripheral slotthrough a recess, atmospheric air being thereby capable of passing intosaid slot and effective to break the aspirating effect of said Venturion said fluid supply.
 2. an ''''off'''' position wherein said firstopening and said second opening are interconnected by a conduitcomprising a peripheral slot formed in said rod axially removed apredetermined distance from said peripheral groove, said peripheral slotbeing interrupted by an aperture comprising an axial hole bored throughsaid rod and connected to said peripheral slot through a recess,atmospheric air being thereby capable of passing into said slot andeffective to break the aspirating effect of said Venturi on said fluidsupply.
 2. An aspirating valve as in claim 1 including a pair of limitstops on the ends of said rod separated by a distance greater than thelength of said transverse bore by an amount substantially equal to saidpredetermined amount of axial separation between said slot and saidgroove, and said transverse bore extends between opposite sides of saidvalve body, said limit stops being capable of defining the extent of toand fro axial movement of said actuator rod between said ''''on''''position and said ''''off'''' position.
 3. An aspirating valve as inclaim 2 wherein said upstream port of said passageway is interiorlythreaded and said discharge port is formed in an exteriorly threadednipple projecting from said valve body.
 4. An aspirating valve as inclaim 3 wherein said orifice is encompassed by a threaded fittingcapable of engaging a removable fluid supply reservoir.
 5. An aspiratingvalve as in claim 4 further including a tubing connected to said orificeand extending below the fluid surface in said supply reservoir, and anair supply vent in said valve body connecting the space above said fluidsurface to the atmosphere.
 6. An aspirating valVe as in claim 5including spring-biased and metered-orifice timer means on said valvefor moving said rod from ''''on'''' position to ''''off'''' positionafter a predetermined dwell time in ''''on'''' position.